TheSzczecin tram system is a 12-line,standard gaugetramway system inSzczecin,Poland, that has been in operation since 1879 (when the town was Stettin,Prussia). The tramway operates on 65 kilometers (40 mi) of route. There are two depots and twelveballoon loops (including five street ones). Daytime lines (night lines were abolished in 1996) are operated by the companyTramwaje Szczecińskie (Szczecin Tramways), on behalf of theZDiTM (Zarząd Dróg i Transportu Miejskiego [pl]; Road and Public Transport Administration). There is also a tourist line operated by the Szczecin's Association of the Enthusiasts of Public Transport.
On October 21, 1872, just before the demolition of fortress walls, German engineer Johannes Bussing received from the Royal Police Directorate in Berlin concession for the construction of a horse tram network. Less than six years later, an important agreement with the city have been signed . On March 25, 1879, the companyStettiner Straßen-Eisenbahn Gesellschaft was established in the same year the first horse tram lines were launched. On August 23, the first line, which began nearby of pl. Gałczyńskiego, lead through pl. Zwycięstwa and ended at Staszica Street. On October 16, the second line from Wiszesława Street to Potulicka Street was opened. The length of both routes rose to 11.5 km. Initially, in Szczecin there was 16 trams and 80 horses, and in 1898 there were 39 trams and 198 horses. In 1886, two new lines were opened : from theSzczecin Główny railway station to Chmielewskiego Street and from Wyszyńskiego Street to Nabrzeże Wieleckie. The first depot was located at the intersection of Wojska Polskiego avenue and Piotra Skargi Street. Later another 3 were established : at Dębogórska Street, Dubois Street and Kolumba Street.
From 1896 to 1900, most of lines had become electric. Electrification have been performed byAllgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft. The main tram routes had two tracks, the other routes had only one track. Electricity have been brought by power stations located in Pomorzany, Old Town and Gdańska Street. In 1904, except for colors, tram lines also became numbers:
In 1903 the first line was built, which crossedOdra and reached the right bank of city – a new line was opened throughMost Długi to ul. Energetyków, and in 1910 throughMost Kłodny to Wendy Street atŁasztownia. In 1907 was opened Niemierzyn depot (in Niemierzyńska Street), and 5 years later Golęcin depot (in Wiszesława Street). In 1926, after Wyspa Jaskółcza had been connected (at the back of Depot in Kolumba Street) with city, on the island have been located a storehouse. In 1927, after Daibe Airport had been built, nearby have been constructed a new tram balloon loop. The tram route has led in those days through 4 bridges: Długi and Cłowy, Portowy, and above Regaliczka and Cłowy. It was the only one at the right bank of Szczecin. Before 1929, electric traction was installed above bridges . Earlier trams had been passing those bridges by increasing their speed in front of bridges. Because of inhabitants' requests, already working tram lines have been expanded. The average speed of trams was about 16 km/h. Since 1928, in Szczecin, apart from tram system, there are also city buses. List of tram lines in 1929:
1 Rennbahn (Tor kolarski) – Flughafen (Lotnisko)
2 Berliner Tor (Brama Portowa) – Wendorf (Słowieńsko)
In 1934 the last tram depot was opened, at 200 Wojska Polskiego Avenue (Zajezdnia Pogodno). In 1940, the total line length measured 50.3 km and trams had transported 58.8 million passengers . After bombardments duringWorld War II, in 1943 and 1944 a lot of routes had been out-of-order, but motorman, owing to their own work, succeeded in launching some of the tram routes.
During World War II, 45% of tracks were damaged, 75% of electric tractions, and 50% of trams. After the war, only one tram depot was working – depot in Niemierzyńska Street. From Brama Portowa the first postwar line, opened on 12 August 1945. Not all of prewar routes had been rebuilt, like those in Staszica Street, E. Plater Street, Rayskiego Street, part of Malczewskiego Street (from Wyzwolenia avenue to Matejki Street), Wendy Street and through Most Cłowy, while a part of theexisting routes had been extended. The first postwar company to manage public transport in Szczecin, wasTramwaje i autobusy miasta Szczecina. In the 1950s its name have been changed intoMiejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne. That company managed 113 trams and 123 trailers. The bus stock have been fully destroyed. In 1945, Szczecin worked 23 motorman (mainly fromPoznań), and at the end of the same year there were already 560 motorman. In 1946 4 lines were opened, which had a total length of route 16.7 km. On 4 April 1947, the first postwar bus line had been opened.Tram lines in 1946:
1 Wojska Polskiego – Brama Portowa
3 Las Arkoński – Dworzec Główny
4 Matejki – pl. Kościuszki
6 Gocław – Lubeckiego
7 Hutnicza – Mickiewicza
Tram lines in 1948:
1 Zajezdnia Pogodno – Wojska Polskiego – Brama Portowa
In 1956, 9 tram lines were working. Routes of lines 1, 5, 7 and 9 led through tram tracks in Wojska Polskiego avenue (from Zwycięstwa square to Szarych Szeregów square), Obrońców Stalingradu Street and through the Old Town. On 7 December 1967, at about 6:35 o'clock, a tram accident in Wyszaka Street took the lives of 15 people.
Tram lines in 1964:
1 Głębokie – Wojska Polskiego – Brama Portowa – Potulicka
9 Zajezdnia Pogodno – Wojska Polskiego – Potulicka
On 1 December 1973, as a result of tendency to close tram lines in the centre of cities, tram transport was abolished in Wojska Polskiego avenue (from former Lenin square – current Szarych Szeregów to Zwycięstwa square), Obrońców Stalingradu Street and Jagiellońska Street (from Wojska Polskiego avenue to Piastów avenue). Apart from closing tracks, one had been opened in Bohaterów Warszawy avenue (from Jagiellońska Street) and Krzywoustego Street (to Kościuszki square). In 1976, MPK was transformed intoWojewódzkie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacji Miejskiej, which also managed public transport in other cities ofSzczecin Voivodeship. In 1983, modernisation of tram depot Pogodno was finished.
Tram lines in 1988:
1 Głębokie – Stocznia Szczecińska
2 Dworzec Niebuszewo – Basen Górniczy
3 Las Arkoński – Pomorzany
4 Pomorzany – Potulicka
5 Krzekowo – Ludowa
6 Gocław – Pomorzany
7 Krzekowo – Basen Górniczy
8 Gumieńce – Basen Górniczy
9 Głębokie – Potulicka
10 Gocław – Potulicka
11 Ludowa – Pomorzany
12 Dworzec Niebuszewo – Pomorzany
Trams Konstal 105N on balloon loopBasen Górniczy in 1975
Trams Konstal N on route 3 in 1975
Konstal 102Na, line 8 at Brama Portowa square in 1975
On 1 January 2009,Miejski Zakład Komunikacyjny (operator of trams in Szczecin) was transformed into the new companyTramwaje Szczecińskie sp. z o.o. On 1 February 2011,PESA 120NaS "Swing" – first low-floor tram in Szczecin, began operation. On 26 March 2011, started modernisation of tram tracks in Krasińskiego Street, Niemierzyńska Street and Arkońska Street. On 1 March 2012, ticket fares were changed. Current[when?] time limits are: 15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes. From April to August, during repairs of Brama Portowa square, old tram tracks had been replaced into modern ones. After 20 years of being abolished, on 3 September 2012, no. 10 tram line was launched on new route Gumieńce-Plac Rodła. On 14 April 2014, repairs of tram tracks were finished in Piastów avenue, at the same time began repairs of run-down tram track in Potulicka Street and Narutowicza Street. Repair includes replacing old track and pavements for new. TheBalloon loop "Potulicka" was also said to have been renovated. In autumn 2014, repairs of tram tracks in 3 Maja avenue had begun.
It was built in 1898. It replaced earlier horse tram depot. The depot was renovated in 1926, 1979 and 1992. The first tram Konstal 105N reached the depot in June 1991. Since May 2001, the depotalso stored trams 105N2k/2000. Since 2008, the depot owns trams Tatra T6A2D, which have been bought from Berlin. Today, Golęcin operates lines 5, 6, 11 and 12.
Pogodno (200 Wojska Polskiego avenue)
It is the largest and youngest tram depot. It was built in 1934 and expanded in 1981. All newly bought trams were sent here to 1991. Since the 1990s, The depot storesKonstal 105N trams and their newer version, 105N2k/2000. The depot also stores low-floorPESA 120Na and 120NaS2 trams. Except for these trams, Pogodno also former Berlin tramsTatra T6A2 andTatra KT4Dt. Nowadays, depot operates lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. The depot is currently being renovated.
Niemierzyn (18A Niemierzyńska Street) – closed on 1 October 2004 – since 2004 in the depot has been located inMuseum of Technic and Transport "Depot of Art"
Depot in Krzysztofa Kolumba Street (today shops and warehouses).
Depot in Piotra Skargi Street (today Municipal Department of Waste Management and a bicycle shop).
Horse tram depot in Dębogórska Street (demolished)
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